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The News-HeraldWed, 13 Dec 2017 21:48:10 -050060Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is the broccoli of Christmas theater. You may not always want it, but you need it. You either embrace it and cover it with cheese, or choke it down.

"A Christmas Carol" with a twist, in this case, impresses the youth but can leave the grown-ups scratching their heads.

]]>Wed, 13 Dec 2017 16:01:05 -0500201712131601052017-12-13T16:01:05-05:002017-12-13T16:01:05-05:00The holidays have the power to bring people together.

And to bring bands together.

What has evolved into The Ohio City Singers, sort of an all-star collection of local rockers that has become a musical staple of Northeast Ohio Decembers, originally was thrown together for a Christmas party in or around 2003.

]]>Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:32:44 -0500201712131032442017-12-13T10:32:44-05:002017-12-13T10:32:44-05:00NEW YORK >> Iconic singer Nina Simone and New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi lead the 2018 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, which includes four first-time nominees.

The Cars, as well as first-time contenders Dire Straits, The Moody Blues and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, also are part of the 2018 class announced Wednesday.

You find yourself waiting - fairly deep into the two-and-a-half-hour running time of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" - for this second film in the "Star Wars" "sequel trilogy" to grab you by Force-chokehold and never let go.

]]>Tue, 12 Dec 2017 12:03:37 -0500201712121203372017-12-12T12:03:37-05:002017-12-12T12:03:37-05:00Tchaikovsky's classic ballet "The Nutcracker" debuted in 1892, but it wasn't until the middle of the 20th century in America where the "Sugar Plum Fairy" production became a Christmas tradition.

That continues this year in Northeast Ohio with numerous productions.

LOS ANGELES >> There were cheers, gasps, droid photo opportunities, casino games and more than a few standing ovations at the jam-packed world premiere of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Saturday night in Los Angeles, which many are already praising online.

Rian Johnson, the writer and director of the eighth installment of the franchise, dedicated the night to the late Carrie Fisher, who died after filming had completed.

]]>Tue, 12 Dec 2017 10:32:00 -0500201712120728462017-12-12T10:32:00-05:002017-12-12T07:28:46-05:00NEW YORK >> Guillermo del Toro's Cold War-era fairytale "The Shape of Water" swam away with a leading seven Golden Globes nominations on Monday and the HBO drama "Big Little Lies" came away with six nods.]]>Mon, 11 Dec 2017 17:48:33 -0500201712111748332017-12-11T17:48:33-05:002017-12-11T17:48:33-05:00LOS ANGELES >> The animated family film "Coco" has topped the box office for a third time on a quiet, pre "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" weekend in theaters.

Disney estimated Sunday that "Coco" added $18.3 million, which would bring its domestic total to $135.5 million.

The weekend's sole new wide release was the Morgan Freeman film "Just Getting Started," which launched to a meager $3.

]]>Mon, 11 Dec 2017 10:58:13 -0500201712111058132017-12-11T10:58:13-05:002017-12-11T10:58:13-05:00On the surface, it does not seem that large a leap for the Ohio Shakespeare Festival to go from Lear to Lerner and Loewe.

With a wardrobe closet chock full of chainmail and flowing gowns, an arsenal of medieval weaponry and a seasoned ensemble with Old English accents ever at the ready,

NEW YORK >> Guillermo del Toro's Cold War-era fairytale "The Shape of Water" swam away with a leading seven nominations from the Golden Globes, while the HBO drama "Big Little Lies" led the television nominees with six nods.

In what is seen as a wide-open Oscar race so far, several films followed closely behind "The Shape of Water," including Steven Spielberg's Pentagon Papers drama "The Post," with six nominations including best actress for Meryl Streep and best actor for Tom Hanks.

]]>Mon, 11 Dec 2017 09:16:35 -0500201712110916352017-12-11T09:16:35-05:002017-12-11T09:16:35-05:00LOS ANGELES >> The godfather of comedy has a few secrets to share: First, he never intended to become the godfather of comedy, never had any idea how to accomplish the feat and, a half-century later, isn't quite sure how he did it.

When Budd Friedman opened a dingy brick-walled nightclub called The Improvisation on the edge of New York's theatre district in 1963, there were no other major comedy clubs to speak of in the U.

]]>Sun, 10 Dec 2017 12:03:00 -0500201712081805482017-12-10T12:03:00-05:002017-12-08T18:05:48-05:00LOS ANGELES >> Han Solo is dead. Luke Skywalker is back, but changed. And Leia Organa's story will soon be coming to an end.

The Star Wars that inspired four decades of passionate fandom appears to be slowly but surely fading as "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" prepares to descend on Dec. 15, giving way to a newer generation of intergalactic rebels and their foes, like Rey and Kylo Ren, and a fresh voice behind the endeavor in writer-director Rian Johnson ("Looper").

While both skyrocketed to celebrity with their Star Wars roles in 1977 and remained inextricably linked through their on-screen family, Hamill says he missed a lot of Fisher's life - during "the Bryan Lourd years" and when her daughter Billie Lourd was an infant.

]]>Fri, 08 Dec 2017 16:31:58 -0500201712081631582017-12-08T16:31:58-05:002017-12-08T16:31:58-05:00NEW YORK >> The creator of a film festival celebrating dogs has taken a surprising step: cats.

But Tracie Hotchner, a pet wellness advocate via books, podcasts and radio shows, isn't going full-on "Ghostbusters" - "dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria!" She's screening a medley of shorts about cats on Saturday in New York, then will take her feline fest on the road, followed by her 3rd annual NY Dog Film Festival on Sunday.

]]>Fri, 08 Dec 2017 14:39:57 -0500201712081439572017-12-08T14:39:57-05:002017-12-08T14:39:57-05:00Here are 12 ideas to get the fun started this weekend.